Magnetometer

Barnes & Associates
Mission Viejo, CA, USA
Fax: 949 454-2910

E-Mail: Phil770@aol.com
Copyright 1995 - 2005

How to build a low cost Differential Proton Precession Magnetometer.
Forward:
Commercial magnetometers are simply too expensive for the average individual. So, I tried to obtain
plans for building a magnetometer and failed to find a source. So, I set out on the Internet and
explored.
I posted questions on many forums and got few or no replies. I searched college libraries for weeks
on end and found some NASA disclosures which were interesting, but of no practical use. I
searched microfilm going back into the 1960's and found an article by Mr. Wadsworth of England
who showed how he made a proton magnetometer. I was elated.
I studied his article then built his magnetometer and it worked. This project was both exciting and
fun. However, building his device posed some modern day procurement problems. He had used
European germanium transistors in his amplifiers and an adjustable ferrite pot core inductor for the 2
KHz audio filter. I used modern silicon transistors and after a long search, I obtain a pot core, but it
was not adjustable. I fine-tuned the filter with external capacitors. This method of tuning is very
inconvenient for users in other parts of the world where the Earth's magnetic flux is stronger or
weaker than at my location thus changing the precession frequency and necessitate tuning the filter
for their location.
It was then that I felt the need to update Mr. Wadsworth's design. I started by designing an op-amp
based amplifier with a low noise front end. I tried just about every low noise op amp and FET for
the front end, but nothing seemed to make an improvement. I ended up using a low cost silicon NPN
that I socketed so I could evaluate individual transistors. This worked satisfactorily. When you hear
the sounds of the magnetometer on this CD, note that the signal to noise ratio is quite good.
The next challenge was to deal with the ferrite pot core inductor. I chose a active filter called a state
variable band pass filter, which could be tuned with a potentiometer and the Q could be set with a
resistor. Another victory.
After successful testing, I documented the project and here it is....
Have fun.
Phil Barnes
Page 2
Introduction:
The Vanguard III satellite measured the earth’s magnetic field in space. Naval aircraft search the seas
for submarines hidden deep beneath the ocean surface. Archeologists search for ancient lost cities
and Prospectors search for heavy iron deposits that will lead them to gold. All of these applications
use versions of the proton precession magnetometer, a simple, sensitive instrument that measures the
earth’s magnetic field.
What is a differential proton precession magnetometer?

A differential proton precession magnetometer is an instrument used to detect variations in the
earth’s local magnetic field. These variations are caused by the presence of iron and ferrous
compounds. Iron and ferrous compounds provide a path for the earth’s magnetic field, which is less
resistant than air. Thus the magnetic field bends and passes through the iron, magnetite and/or
blacksand causing a local distortion or anomaly in the natural magnetic field. The differential
magnetometer senses this variation and is thus an excellent prospecting tool. The operation of the
magnetometer is not affected by water or soil, only by iron and iron compounds.
Theory of operation:
The magnetometer is based upon the effect the earth’s magnetic field exerts on protons in the nuclei
of atoms in water. According to theory, the most elementary particles - including the protons in
water, spin on their axes like tops. They are also magnetized. In the presence of a magnetic field,
such as the earth’s, the spinning protons precess around the direction of the earth’s magnetic field in
the same way that a spinning top standing on its point at an angle precesses around the earth’s
gravitational field. The rate (or frequency) of precession is proportional to the strength of the
magnetic field.
Normally the protons are out of step with one another, so that their effects cancel and the precession
cannot be detected. If, however, all of the protons could be made to point in the same direction at
right angle to the earth’s magnetic field and were then released together, they would all precess
together. The effect of all would add, and the precession would be detectable for a few seconds until
the precession got out of step again. Unfortunately a magnetic field of more than a billion Oersteds
Page 3
would be needed to line up all of the protons at room temperature. This field is much larger than we
can produce for a hand held instrument for portable operation. However, much smaller fields, which
can be produced easily by a battery and a coil of wire can cause slightly more protons to point one
way than the other. The difference is sufficient to produce a detectable signal when they are
released. The precession frequency, and hence the frequency of the signal induced in the coil, is
around 2025 cycles per second. After amplification it can be heard in an earphone as a musical tone
about three octaves above middle C.
The heart of the instrument is two plastic bottles wrapped with insulated copper wire and filled with
distilled water. A switch enables the operator to connect the two coils to either a battery or the input
terminals of an amplifier. The bottles are mounted in PVC TEEs on the ends of a six foot PVC pole
and at right angles to the pole. This pole (or beam) also supports the switch, battery and amplifier.
Usually the coils are connected to the input of the amplifier. Pressing the switch transfers their
connections to the battery. When the switch is released, the battery circuit opens first, and then the
contacts transfer the coil leads back to the amplifier.
The earth’s magnetic field has a force of around 0.5 Oersted. So, at a potential of three volts the
current in the coil develops a magnetizing force in the water of about 30 Oersteds. When the field is
turned off, the protons precess around the earth’s field for about 3 seconds and induce an alternating
voltage into the windings on the bottles. The windings are connected in reverse polarity. For this
reason the induced voltages cancel each other if the earth’s field is uniform in strength and direction
at both bottles. Nothing is heard in the earphone except the residual noise of the amplifier. This
differential connection also reduces common mode noise signals induced into the coils by external
phenomenon such as magnetic storms, engine ignition noise, lighting and such.
On the other hand, if the magnetic field differs at the two bottles, the induced frequencies will differ
and the net difference in voltage appears at the terminals of the amplifier. Such differences are
observed when one bottle is closer than the other to a piece of iron or inhomogeneities of the soil.
Beats or wavers then appear in the signal. They reflect the difference frequency of the current in the
two sets of coils. The 2025 cycle note from the earphone gets alternately louder and softer. The
Page 4
-5
magnetometer can detect a minimum difference in field strength of about 3x10 Oersted. The
-4
smallest difference that can definitely identified as arising from a buried test magnet is about 2x10
Orsted, which give about one beat per second.
How it is used.
The operator should always orientate the coils with the earth’s magnetic field to produce the loudest
and longest duration tones. When both coils of the magnetometer are in equal magnetic field
strengths they each produce the same tone or frequency which cancel each other. When the
magnetic field differs between the coils, each coil produces a different tone. The tones then “Beat”
thus producing a tone that rises and falls slowly. (EEE..EEe..Eee..eee....) As the difference in
magnetic field increases so does the beat frequency. This is demonstrated on the CD ROM.
When searching in an open area, hold the pole horizontally at right angles to your path. If you are
moving east or west, the pole points north and south and the bottles point east and west. Press the
switch for about three seconds then release it. If you hear no beats or one that persists for more than
a second, conclude that no target is in the vicinity. Press the switch while taking three slow paces
forward, Stop and listen again. In this manner, search a strip about 6 to 8 feet wide. If you find no
target, similarly scan parallel strips. Thus you can quickly search a large area, listening at points six
feet apart in a series of 6-foot strips. When used vertically, one coil is very near the earth or stream
and the other coil is up in the air. This technique is used to search for smaller objects nearer the
surface.
This project should be undertaken by individuals who have experience in electronic assembly, can
read schematic diagrams and know how to solder. This is not a difficult project for an experienced
person.
The Sensors:
The bottles: Both sensor coils are wound on matching polyethylene bottles. Each bottle is fully
filled with distilled water and the top is sealed with RTV silicone. This gives an otherwise soft
bottle a firmness that facilitates handling when winding the coils on the bottles. The required bottles
Page 5
each have a capacity of 2 fl. Ozs. and a diameter of 1 3/8 inches. This size bottle is very common
and can be found in drug stores and craft stores often containing shampoo samples or craft paints.
Transparent or translucent bottles are preferred over opaque bottles thus allowing the water level to
be checked from time to time and topped-off if necessary. Always use distilled water.
CAUTION: Do not use a bottle having a larger or smaller diameter than specified above. To do so
changes the magnetic flux density during polarization and the resonance frequency of the coils
wound on the bottles.
The coils: Each bottle is to be wound with 520 turns of # 24 enameled magnet wire. The turns are
divided into four groups having 130 turns each. The groups are evenly spaced and separated to
reduce capacity between windings. To facilitate winding, fit each bottle with 5 spacers (rings) cut
0.2” wide from a PVC pipe “slip coupler” which is normally used to join 1” PVC pipes. The
spacers should be smoothly finished and snugly fitted onto the bottle. Slide these spacer rings onto
the filled bottle and layer wind the coils carefully and smoothly. The end spacers should fit tight
and be glued with super glue to secure them to the bottle. Do not rush the job, the coils must be
layer wound very carefully. Ideally, the first layer should have 20 turns. Winding the coils is
possibly the most difficult part of constructing the magnetometer. Some practice and a lot of
patience is required. After the winding is complete, carefully strengthen the whole coil assembly by
wrapping with black PVC electrical tape stretched moderately tight at the bottle ends. The goal here
is to keep the end spacers from popping off of the bottle. Finish the coil leads by soldering flexible
24 gauge speaker wire to the coils of sufficient length to reach the electronics package at the center
of the beam, or you may wish to solder small nonmagnetic connectors to the coil leads at this
juncture to facilitate removing the sensors and disassembling the beam for travel convenience.
The beam: The beam is made of two sections of 1 1/2” PVC pipe some 3 to 4.5 feet in length. A
“TEE” connector in the center attaches the electronics to the beam and a TEE on each end holds the
sensor coils. The sensors are wrapped in foam and slipped into the TEE’s with their connecting
wires fed into the beam center pipe for easy access. Since the coils are designed for “out of water”
use there is no need to glue the TEEs onto the ends of the beam. They may be slipped on and off as
Page 6
required for storage and travel convenience. If you plan to use the coils underwater a whole new
beam design would be required.
The Amplifier: The signals from the coils amount to about 10-16 watt, equivalent to the radiant
energy that enters the eye from a candle 16 miles away. Normal electron noise generated by the
copper coils approaches this 10-16 watt level. The amplifier must therefore be of the type which
develops high gain and low noise at the operating frequency of 2025 cycles. The amplifier is
compact, lightweight, and imposes a small load on the 9-volt battery.
-16
The low noise pre-amplifier: Because a signal of 10 watt can just be heard over the noise of the
coils, an amplifier having an amplification factor of 10 to 20 million is required for satisfactory
performance. With this much gain, the first amplifier stage must necessarily generate very little
noise of its own. The input transistor is socketed and individually selected for best signal to noise
performance. The amplifier assembly is constructed on a Radio Shack PC Board part # 276-170. An
in-line design is used to isolate the output as far as possible from the input to prevent oscillation.
Although 8 pin DIP 741 IC’s may be used, the TO-99 metal can units are preferred if available. Pin
#8 of each metal package should be grounded to provide added shielding of each stage and thus
improve stability and freedom from oscillation.
The band pass filter: Due to the high gain of the audio amplifier, wideband noise generated by the
“front end” of the amplifier is undesirable to the operator and only serves to mask the desired signal.
The band pass filter is tuned to the signal frequency of 2025 Hz and eliminates much of the
undesirable noise while passing and amplifying the desired signal. The filter used in this design is a
tunable, active, band pass filter consisting of three (3) op-amps producing a gain of 6 to 8 with a high
Q. It is easily tuned to the proper frequency using the trimmer potentiometer and an audio generator
set at 2025 Hz. When testing the amplifier set the tuning potentiometer to the center of its range and
select R14 so the filter peaks at 2025 Hz. This is accomplished by using a decade resistor box and
audio oscillator for this operation. The filter may then be fine tuned to the actual signal during
operation using the potentiometer.
Page 7
The output stage: The audio output stage is preceded by the volume control and consists of a 741
op-amp having a voltage gain of 220. Like the earlier stages, it draws very little supply current.
This low current is attributed to the use of a crystal earphone as the output transducer. If a magnetic
output device such as a speaker or phones is used, the output amplifier should be changed to a type
386 IC audio power amplifier and rewired accordingly. This will result in a significant increase in
battery power consumption.
Tuning the Sensors: The sensor coils need to be tuned to 2025 Hz to optimize their sensitivity to
the proton frequency. When the unit is assembled and operational, connect an AC voltmeter across
the piezo earphone terminals. Locate the sensor coils so as to just pickup the 2025 Hz tone from a
“transmitter” coupling coil hooked up to the output of the audio signal generator. Select the sensor
coil tuning capacitors to peak at 2025 Hz and solder them permanently in place. Mine were 0.47
Mfd, 0.1 Mfd & .01Mfd.
The Crystal Earphone: vs. headphones or speaker.

The crystal earphone used in this design offers several advantages over the more conventional
magnetic headphone or speaker. The crystal earphone is quite sensitive requiring very little power to
produce an acceptable output volume, it often resonates near the magnetometer output frequency and
is free of ferrous metals or magnets which could influence the magnetometer. Replace the earphone
leads with a thin shielded microphone cable to prevent feedback to the sensor coils and low noise
amplifier. The coils in magnetic headphones can cause magnetically coupled feedback directly to the
sensor coils with resulting oscillation when the head is turned. If you expect to be operating in a
quiet environment, you may wish to use a piezo speaker such as Radio Shack Part # 273-073. This
transducer can be tuned to 2025 Hz by adjusting the output opening hole by partially covering the
hole, as one would tune an organ pipe, and listening for the output to peak.
Battery life: The amplifier draws around 6 to 7 milliamperes from the 9-volt battery. This assures a
battery life of several days of continuous usage from a conventional 9-volt alkaline battery.
The polarizing battery is a three cell nickel-cadmium type, size AA, and is field rechargeable
overnight. The coil polarization current is around 360 to 390 milliamperes with a 50% duty cycle
Page 8
bringing the average current to 180 milliamperes. The size AA cells are rated at 500 milliampere-
hours. This estimates to be just short of 2-3 hours of service prior to the need to recharge. This
battery is not critical and it may be desirable to substituted it with a higher Ampere-Hour unit. Size
and weight are a consideration. If a 12-volt battery is used, performance will improve because
polarization time is reduced, polarization current will increase to around 1 ampere and signal output
level will increase. This trade-off may be worthwhile to many users. A small six-volt motorcycle
battery may be ideal with its iron free construction and lightweight. These typically have a 4AH
rating.
Enhancements: This magnetometer is a useful instrument as built. Here are some thoughts
regarding enhancements:
A 556 timer IC and 3PDT relay may replace the hand-operated switch. The timer can have
both adjustable polarize time and listen time. A manual mode can operate the relay using a
switch. I prefer the hand-operated switch as shown in the schematic.
A 567 PLL tone decoder IC may be used to detect the 2025 Hz tone and switch the output
transducer directly to the 567 PLL VCO for a loud clean output. This device replaces the
741 output amplifier. After trying this I preferred the normal analog output over the
switched output of the 567.
Notes:
• The magnetometer will usually not work indoors because of the inhomogeneities of the
magnetic fields present there. Do all testing in an open outdoor area.
• This magnetometer is a very sensitive instrument. It is our wish that you enjoy building and
using this instrument. Have fun.....
• Phil Barnes, E-mail: Phil770@aol.com FAX: (949) 454-2910
Page 9
BEAM CENTER TEE (NOT SHOWN) IS CONNECTED TO BOX AND TWO

BEAM PIPES.
THIS ALLOWS EASY BREAKDOWN FOR TRAVEL AND STORAGE.
PC BOARD IS MOUNTED TO THE BOX METAL COVER WHICH PROVIDES

ADDITIONAL SHIELDING FOR AMPLIFIER STABILITY.
THE POLARIZING SWITCH IS SEEN IN THIS PICTURE AS A CONVENIENT

FINGER TRIGGER FOR THE HAND HOLDING THE BEAM.
6 -9 FEET
• DIFFERENTIAL PROTON PRECESSION MAGNETOMETER
Page 10
.
0.2"
Cut 2 notches for wire.
Side & inside
0.50" 0.50" 0.50" 0.50"
1 3/8" I.D.
STEP - 1 STEP - 2
Make 10 Spacers. Fill bottle with distilled water and seal.
Cut from 1" PVC pipe "Slip Coupler". Slide spacers in place and glue. See text.
Page 11
STEP - 3 STEP - 4
Start windings. Wrap with black PVC tape to

Smooth layer wind 20 turns/layer. hold coils together and keep spacers on the bottle.
130 turns per coil.
MAGNETOMETER COIL ASSEMBLY CONSTRUCTION DETAILS.

Finished Sensor Coil

wrapped with tape to
secure coil and spacers.
Do your best work with

the sensor coils.
Coil, TEE and

Tupperware end covers.
Leads from the electronics

box are fed through the
beam and are soldered to
the sensor coil leads. You
may wish to use small non-
magnetic connectors at this
junction for easy
disconnect.
Page 12
•
R5
+ C2 R21
+
VCC (+)
R19
C8 OUTPUT
C6 R14
R1 +
R4 R7 IC 1 IC 2 IC 3 IC 4 C12
C7
R17
C 10
R16
R13
R10
R15
R11
R6
C100
C101
C1 + R8 +
+ VCC (-)
C
R18
C 13
R9
AMPLIFIER INPUT
+ C4
+ +
C3 R3 R2
R21
Page 13
SENSOR COIL TUNING CAPACITORS. VOLUME CONTROL
C100, C101, Etc...
MAGNETOMETER
PRINTER CIRCUIT BOARD
COMPONENT SIDE
Rev. 2004
PRINTER CIRCUIT BOARD

C11
MAGNETOMETER
Rev. 2004
FOIL SIDE
C9
R 12
276-170
+
+
CAT.NO.
Page 14
Page 15
M o m e n t a r y
S W I T C H
P r e s s t o p o la r iz e S e n s o r C o ils.
S e n s o r c o il S e n s o r c o il
N o. 1 N o. 2
1 2 - 2 0 v o lt
Z e n e r d io d e
3 - 12 VOLT
S ili c o n d io d e Polarizing battery
Page 16
H ig h C r y s ta l
E a rp h o n e
C100 C101
Low
0 .4 7 a n d 0 . 1 u f d
P o ly s t y r e n e
T u n in g C a p a c it o r s .
( T h e s e c a p a c it o r s a r e m o u n t e d o n t h e A m p li fi e r
p r in te d c i r c u i t b o a r d a t th e i n p u t t e r m in a ls )
Page 17
For clarity, power connections to IC's are not shown.
741 Pin 4 = Negative Supply

Pin 7 = Positive Supply
TL082 Pin 4 = Negative Supply

Pin 8 = Positive Supply.
Proton Magnetometer - Parts List
SYMBOL QTY DESCRIPTION P/N NOTE

C1 1 I.0 mFd. electrolytic
C2 1 6.0 mFd. electrolytic
C4 1 .05 mFd. disc. (.047 )
C6 1 0.1 mFd. disc.
C7 1 0.1 mFd. disc.
C8 1 0.01 mFd. disc.
C11 1 470 pF. disc.
C12 1 100 mFd. electrolytic
C13 1 22 mFd. electrolytic
C100 1 0.47 mFd. Polystyrene TYPICAL VALUE
C101 1 0.1 mFd. Polystyrene TYPICAL VALUE
R1 1 120 K 1/8W CARBON FILM

R3 1 6.8 K 1/8W CARBON FILM
R9 1 220 1/8W CARBON FILM
R14 1 SELECTED VALUE (~2-3K)
R20 1 10 K - POT. VOLUME CONTROL
R21 1 200 OHMS - TRIMMER
IC1 1 OP AMP. TO-99 741

IC2 1 OP AMP. DUAL, 8 DIP 1458
IC3 1 OP AMP. TO-99 741
IC4 1 OP AMP. TO-99 741
Q1 1 NPN TRANSISTOR - TO92 MPS A05 MOTOROLA
Page 18
D1 1 DIODE, SILICON 1N4001 RADIO SHK.

D2 1 DIODE, ZENER 12-20V
EARPHONE 1 CRYSTAL EARPHONE 25CR25 MOUSER
SOCKET 4 8-PIN DIP SOCKET 276-1995 RADIO SHK.

PC BOARD 1 EXPERIMENTERS P.C.BD. 276-170 RADIO SHK.
BOX 1 6.26 x 3.75 x 2.0 - METAL PANEL 270-627 RADIO SHK.
SW1 1 S.P.S.T. ON/OFF SWITCH RADIO SHK.
SW2 1 3 P.D.T. MONENTARY SWITCH
WIRE ~ 22GA. STRANDED, Misc colors. RADIO SHK.
BOTTLE 2 2 oz. POLYETHELENE, 1 3/8"D. Read text.

WIRE ~ MAGNET WIRE #24 AWG. Enameled L3-612 GC Tech
TAPE 6' PVC ELECTRICAL
Misc. Case, Knob, PVC tubing and fittings, Batteries, Solder Etc...
PIPE 6' PVC, 1 1/2" I.D.
TEE 3 PVC, 1 1/2" TEE CONNECTOR
COVER 4 TEE END HOLE PLUGS 201-28 TUPPERWARE
Page 19

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Barnes & Associates

Mission Viejo, CA, USA

Fax: 949 454-2910

Copyright 1995 - 2005

After successful testing, I documented the project and here it is....

What is a differential proton precession magnetometer?

The Crystal Earphone: vs. headphones or speaker.

• Phil Barnes, E-mail: Phil770@aol.com FAX: (949) 454-2910

BEAM CENTER TEE (NOT SHOWN) IS CONNECTED TO BOX AND TWO

PC BOARD IS MOUNTED TO THE BOX METAL COVER WHICH PROVIDES

THE POLARIZING SWITCH IS SEEN IN THIS PICTURE AS A CONVENIENT

• DIFFERENTIAL PROTON PRECESSION MAGNETOMETER

Start windings. Wrap with black PVC tape to

130 turns per coil.

MAGNETOMETER COIL ASSEMBLY CONSTRUCTION DETAILS.

Finished Sensor Coil

Do your best work with

Coil, TEE and

Leads from the electronics

PRINTER CIRCUIT BOARD

741 Pin 4 = Negative Supply

TL082 Pin 4 = Negative Supply

Proton Magnetometer - Parts List

SYMBOL QTY DESCRIPTION P/N NOTE

R1 1 120 K 1/8W CARBON FILM

IC1 1 OP AMP. TO-99 741

Q1 1 NPN TRANSISTOR - TO92 MPS A05 MOTOROLA

D1 1 DIODE, SILICON 1N4001 RADIO SHK.

EARPHONE 1 CRYSTAL EARPHONE 25CR25 MOUSER

SOCKET 4 8-PIN DIP SOCKET 276-1995 RADIO SHK.

WIRE ~ 22GA. STRANDED, Misc colors. RADIO SHK.

BOTTLE 2 2 oz. POLYETHELENE, 1 3/8"D. Read text.

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